LJUBLJANA, Jan 16 (Hina) - Addressing Croatian businessmen in Ljubljana on Wednesday evening, Croatian Vice Premier Slavko Linic said: "You have succeeded on a demanding market and we can be proud of the results of the economic
cooperation with Slovenia".
LJUBLJANA, Jan 16 (Hina) - Addressing Croatian businessmen in
Ljubljana on Wednesday evening, Croatian Vice Premier Slavko Linic
said: "You have succeeded on a demanding market and we can be proud
of the results of the economic cooperation with Slovenia". #L#
Linic said this to representatives of Croatian companies operating
in Slovenia who expressed interest in the results of his talks with
Slovene ministers and businessmen on solving open issues between
the two countries, held on the same day.
Linic said that an increasing number of Croatian companies were
interested in making capital investments in Slovenia.
He also pointed to the need for liberalisation and opening. The
experience of Croatian-Slovene economic relations show that
protection measures from one side are reciprocated by the same
protection measures from the other, Linic said.
Linic said that an agreement on avoiding double taxation would be
signed this year, while the two countries' open issues would be
solved on an individual basis, and not in a package, because such a
solution would take too long.
According to him, the Croatian government still believes that the
so-called oil corridors through the border crossings of Pasjak and
Rupa were motivated by environmental issues and Ina's Slovene
branch Iterina should not have difficulties because of it.
Croatian businessmen expressed interest in business conditions
after Slovenia joins the European Union in 18 months. After
Slovenia gains membership of the EU, the Croatian-Slovene Free
Trade Agreement will be revoked, but this will not represent a
problem for Croatian businessmen in Slovenia because favourable
regulations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement would
apply.
In the talks with Croatian businessmen, Linic attached special
importance to efforts invested in reducing possible barriers
towards Slovenia.
Addressing the issue of relations with Slovenia which have not been
solved since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, Linic said the
government would try to help those who were strengthening the
export of goods and capital. Succession issues will then be easier
to solve, he said.
(hina) it sb